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Man dies in police Taser shooting in Newcastle-under-Lyme | Man dies in police Taser shooting in Newcastle-under-Lyme |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man has died after being shot by police with a Taser during a suspected burglary in Staffordshire. | A man has died after being shot by police with a Taser during a suspected burglary in Staffordshire. |
Officers were responding to a reported break-in on Audley Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, shortly after 01:00 GMT. | |
The occupants had left before officers arrived, leaving the man inside the property. A Taser was discharged and the man was taken to a police vehicle. | The occupants had left before officers arrived, leaving the man inside the property. A Taser was discharged and the man was taken to a police vehicle. |
He "became unresponsive" and despite the efforts of paramedics died a short time later, Staffordshire Police said. | He "became unresponsive" and despite the efforts of paramedics died a short time later, Staffordshire Police said. |
'Highest Taser use' | 'Highest Taser use' |
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). |
An IPCC report from July found Staffordshire Police to have the highest use of Tasers per capita in the country. | |
An independent panel found they were discharged on 72 occasions and drawn "as a deterrent" 547 times over nine years. | An independent panel found they were discharged on 72 occasions and drawn "as a deterrent" 547 times over nine years. |
Neighbour Mark Finney, who lives near the flat involved in the incident, said: "I heard severe banging and shouting last night about 1.30. I got up to have a cup of coffee. | |
"There was somebody in distress and there was a lot of shouting and banging but I didn't know the police had been called. | "There was somebody in distress and there was a lot of shouting and banging but I didn't know the police had been called. |
"It seemed like somebody was arguing with somebody and shouting and banging things around." | "It seemed like somebody was arguing with somebody and shouting and banging things around." |
Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said it was "immensely sad" the man had died. | |
But he said it was important to "understand the context" of the use of Tasers and officers will often brandish them as a preventative measure. | |
"Although the number of times it's taken from the holster is quite high, the number of times it is actually shot or fired is very low indeed," he said. | |
Mr Ellis said he was "hopeful and confident" footage from body cameras, introduced by the force last year, would prove "very useful indeed" to investigators. | |
He said had also asked the force's ethics, transparency and audit panel to look at the incident. | |
Controversial Taser use | Controversial Taser use |
Tasers were introduced into British policing in 2003, but their use over the years has been surrounded with controversy: | Tasers were introduced into British policing in 2003, but their use over the years has been surrounded with controversy: |
Acpo said officers must pass a nationally recognised training course before they are allowed to deploy a Taser. | Acpo said officers must pass a nationally recognised training course before they are allowed to deploy a Taser. |
Commander Neil Basu, from Acpo, said: "While Taser is always an option of last resort, officers must be free to act in the best interests of public safety, whoever the person posing a threat may be." | Commander Neil Basu, from Acpo, said: "While Taser is always an option of last resort, officers must be free to act in the best interests of public safety, whoever the person posing a threat may be." |
In September it emerged that a review into the use of Tasers by the force found that officers discharged them on one out of 10 occasions when they were drawn. | In September it emerged that a review into the use of Tasers by the force found that officers discharged them on one out of 10 occasions when they were drawn. |
The force used Tasers 33 times for every 100 officers in 2013, and a total of 619 times in nine years, according to the police watchdog. | The force used Tasers 33 times for every 100 officers in 2013, and a total of 619 times in nine years, according to the police watchdog. |
The force said the use of a Taser was "a last resort for officers". | The force said the use of a Taser was "a last resort for officers". |
Solicitor Sophie Kahn, who has represented Taser victims, called for their use to be curbed while a national review is carried out. | Solicitor Sophie Kahn, who has represented Taser victims, called for their use to be curbed while a national review is carried out. |
"The Home Secretary ordered a review of Tasers in October this year due to the excessive use on vulnerable individuals," she said. | "The Home Secretary ordered a review of Tasers in October this year due to the excessive use on vulnerable individuals," she said. |
"As the spotlight is now firmly on police use of force, the Home Secretary should move to impose a temporary ban on Taser use whilst the review is ongoing." | "As the spotlight is now firmly on police use of force, the Home Secretary should move to impose a temporary ban on Taser use whilst the review is ongoing." |
What is a Taser? | What is a Taser? |
The Taser fires two darts with a five-second, 50,000-volt charge, which can temporarily disable its target. | The Taser fires two darts with a five-second, 50,000-volt charge, which can temporarily disable its target. |
Its ammunition consists of a single-use compressed air cartridge which fires the darts and has to be replaced each time the weapon is fired. | Its ammunition consists of a single-use compressed air cartridge which fires the darts and has to be replaced each time the weapon is fired. |
Police guidelines stipulate the device may be used where officers face "a risk of serious violence". | Police guidelines stipulate the device may be used where officers face "a risk of serious violence". |
Tasers were introduced in England and Wales in 2003 and rolled out across both countries in 2008, and were not limited to specialist firearms officers. | Tasers were introduced in England and Wales in 2003 and rolled out across both countries in 2008, and were not limited to specialist firearms officers. |